Did you miss a week? Back editions of the Wheelhouse Weekly are available in the section.

MM&P HOLIDAY CLOSINGS

MM&P Headquarters, MM&P Plans, MM&P Port Offices and the MM&P Federal Credit Union will be closed Jan. 1. In addition, the Port Offices will be closed on Dec. 31 for New Year’s Eve. The Honolulu Hall will also be closed Friday, Jan. 2, in honor of Jack Hall, a mariner who helped bring democratic rank-and-file unionism to Hawaii.

AS 2009 BEGINS, MARITIME GROUPS CALL FOR AN END TO THE CRIMINALIZATION OF SEAFARERS

The Nautical Institute has thrown its weight behind the international campaign to free the captain and chief officer of the HEBEI SPIRIT. The two have been held in South Korea since December 2007, when their very large crude carrier was struck by a runaway barge. “This time of year is typically one of reflection, and looking back, 2008 has proven to be an incredibly testing time for seafarers the world over,” said Nautical Institute Chief Executive C. P. Wake in an official statement.

The Institute said it was joining with other maritime organizations, including the International Transport Workers Federation, of which MM&P is a member, and the International Chamber of Shipping, to call for the release of the deck officers of the HEBEI SPIRIT. “The jailing of Captain Jasprit Chawla and Chief Officer Syam Chetan has aggravated and aggrieved the entire shipping industry,” Wake said. “As the HEBEI SPIRIT suffered blow after blow from a loose Samsung crane barge, and as the officers reacted to the very best of their ability and with every regard to best practice and seamanship, they could surely never believe they would languish in jail for simply doing their best to save their fellow crew, the environment, cargo and the vessel itself.”

Captain Chawla received the 2008 Lloyd’s List “Shipmaster of the year” award, of which the Nautical Institute is a sponsor. “Chawla’s actions onboard HEBEI SPIRIT were recognized and applauded, not for political reasons or to court controversy, but because in the face of adversity his response reflected that of all professional mariners,” Wake said. “He and his crew did all they could to mitigate the risks, and yet here we are with two fellow seafarers unfairly jailed.”

“As an industry we face major problems in recruiting the young, talented people we need into the future. In attacking seafarers, in vilifying them and making them out to be criminals regardless of their actions, then we are in danger of effectively killing seafaring as a career, and in the process damaging world trade.”

Wake cited other recent instances of illegal criminalization of seafarers, including: proposed European Union regulations that would criminalize those involved in maritime accidents; the trial of Captain Mangouros of the PRESTIGE, scheduled to begin soon in Spain; the deportation from Greece of Captain Kristo Laptalo of the CORAL SEA, despite his being found innocent in the “drugs in bananas” case; the ZIM MEXICO III; and the COSCO BUSAN.

ONE CREWMEMBER INJURED AFTER PIRATES ATTEMPT TO BOARD EGYPTIAN SHIP; CHINA TO JOIN INTERNATIONAL ANTI-PIRACY FORCE

A German military helicopter routed pirates who were trying to board an Egyptian ship, the WADI AL-ARAB, off the coast of Somalia on Thursday. One of the ship’s crew was shot in the attack. The bulk carrier, with 31 crewmembers aboard, was passing through the Gulf of Aden on its way to Asia when pirates in a speedboat began pursuing it, said Noel Choong of the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) piracy reporting center. A passing ship alerted the IMB, which asked a multinational naval coalition force in the area to help.

In response, the German navy frigate KARLSRUHE dispatched a helicopter. The pirates fled as the chopper reached the vessel, according to a statement from the German military, but not before shooting one of the ship’s crew. A second helicopter, carrying a medical team, retrieved the injured crewmember, who is now receiving treatment on the KARLSRUHE. After the attack, the WADI AL-ARAB continued on its way to South Korea, where it delivered a shipment of wheat from Ukraine. The IMB says there have been 110 pirate attacks in 2008 in the Gulf of Aden, including 42 hijackings. Most ships have been released after a ransom was paid, though 14—with more than 240 crewmembers—are still being held. Japan said last week it was considering sending military ships to join the coalition. China was scheduled Friday to send two destroyers, the 169 WUHAN and the 171 HAIKOU, and a supply vessel, the 87 WEISANHU. The Chinese government said approximately 20 percent of the 1,265 Chinese ships passing along the Somalia’s coast have come under attack this year, and seven hijackings have involved either Chinese ships or crews.

SHIP CHARTER RATES CONTINUE TO FALL

The Journal of Commerce reports that container ship charter rates have fallen to new lows in the closing days of 2008. The magazine says that the charter market “has come to a virtual standstill,” with carriers opting to charter ships on a spot basis, for between one and three months, instead of making longer term commitments. The magazine said that after adjusting for inflation, charter rates are below the levels of the bear market in early 2002. It said over 15o vessels have been laid up as carriers continue to cut services. At least 18 “loops” have been suspended or pooled on the Asia-Europe trade alone since August, the magazine reports.

COURT EXTENDS COMPLIANCE DEADLINE FOR EPA’S VESSEL GENERAL PERMIT

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its final Vessel General Permit (VGP) for discharges incidental to the normal operation of commercial vessels Dec. 18. On Dec. 19, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California approved a joint motion to delay the effective date of the VGP. The date for compliance is now set for Feb. 6. If and when the EPA surmounts the various legal hurdles, vessel operators will for the first time be required to obtain a special permit for covered discharges. The court’s action gives the commercial vessel industry time to establish and implement operational and recordkeeping procedures to comply with its requirements, including the new, different, and more stringent state-specific requirements. Although the compliance date is now Feb. 6, the industry will have an extra two weeks (until Feb. 19) to implement discharge inspections, training and recordkeeping requirements.

JOBS AVAILABLE ON T-AGS VESSELS

There are three positions currently open on the T-AGS oceanographic survey ships: Chief Mate on the USNS HENSON (30-40 day job), Second Mate on the USNS JOHN MCDONNELL and Second Mate on the USNS MARY SEARS. The jobs can be bid with a port relief card instead of regular shipping card. Mariners on vacation can also take these jobs. If you are interested in taking one of these jobs, please immediately contact Charlie Moy in MM&P’s New York/New Jersey Hall, 201-963-1918 or nynj@bridgedeck.org.

JOB OPENINGS FOR MM&P MEMBERS ON THE GREAT LAKES

There are job openings on the Great Lakes for MM&P members. Our contracted employers are seeking engineers and licensed mates with pilotage. Retirees are also encouraged to apply. The rules of the MM&P Pension Plan allow pensioners to accept without penalty employment–other than Covered Employment–aboard vessels covered by collective bargaining agreements with MM&P membership groups, on condition that the employment is first approved by MM&P. Interested parties should call 216-776-1667 or e-mail cmalue@bridgedeck.org.

APPLICANTS’ COURSE FOR D-BOOK MEMBERSHIP TO BE HELD IN SEATTLE AND LOS ANGELES

The course for MM&P applicants seeking to qualify for D-Book Membership will be held in Seattle on Jan. 28-29 and in Los Angeles on Feb. 10-11. All courses start at 0900 and finish around 1530. If you are interested in participating, please call the Seattle Hall (206-441-8700) or the Los Angeles Hall (310-834-7201) to reserve your seat. Class size is limited so sign up early. If you wish to be considered for D-Book status, you need to have completed this class, have four favorable recommendations, have paid the initiation fee and have at least 360 days sea time under MM&P contract. Courses may be cancelled if not enough applicants sign up.

TWIC COUNTDOWN: 107 DAYS UNTIL ALL MARINERS MUST HAVE A TWIC

Reminder: April 15, 2009 is the deadline for all mariners and other maritime industry workers to obtain the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).

The Coast Guard has announced it is seeking members for the Towing Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC) and the Houston/Galveston Navigation Safety Advisory Committee (HOGANSAC). TSAC advises the Coast Guard on matters relating to shallow-draft inland and coastal waterway navigation and towing safety. Applications must be submitted by Feb. 16. HOGANSAC advises the Coast Guard on matters relating to safe navigation of vessels to and from the ports of Galveston, Houston, and Texas City, and throughout Galveston Bay. The deadline for applying for membership on HOGANSAC is Feb. 14.

The Coast Guard has also announced it is looking for people interested in serving on an Area Maritime Security Committee (AMSC) in any Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone. If you are interested, you should contact your local COTP before Jan. 21. More info can be found at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-30612.pdf

OPENINGS IN NTSB MARINE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION COURSE

Marine Accident Investigation for Marine Professionals (MS 101), a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) course scheduled for Jan. 26-30 at the NTSB Training Center in Ashburn, Va., has openings for mid- to senior-level marine industry professionals. The week-long course covers the Safety Board’s procedures during a major marine accident. It will be led by senior NTSB investigators who will use examples from recent NTSB investigations. This is the first time the course has been offered. A description of the course, the registration process and the cost is at: http://www.ntsb.gov/Academy/CourseInfo/MS101_2009.htm. For more info, contact NTSB registrar Phuong Callaway at (571) 223-3941 or callawp@ntsb.gov or media contact Bridget Serchak at (202) 314-6100 or bridget.serchak@ntsb.gov.

MITAGS ACADEMIC NOTES

CLASS OPENINGS: Between now and the end of March, seats are available in the following courses:

…remember: If you can’t make the class, make the call. Be courteous, don’t be a “no show.” — Check the MITAGS website at www.mitags.org for course descriptions associated with the course title abbreviations, and schedule revisions. For class availability or info on MITAGS courses and programs, contact admissions toll-free at 866-656-5568 or by e-mail: admissions@mitags.org.

High-quality clothing embroidered with the NEW PMI logo! We can ship these items also! Acceptable forms of payment are check, credit card, money order and exact cash. Call Laura Bendixen at 888-893-7829 for prices and to order. If we don’t have your size, we’ll be glad to special order for you at no extra cost.

MM&P MARKET WATCH AS OF 12-26-2008

D O W

N A S D A Q

S & P 500

8,515.55

1,530.24

868.15

Fund Name & Trading Symbol

ClosingPrice

Vanguard Asset Allocation Fund(VAARX)

40.30

Vanguard 500 Index Fund (VFINX)

80.23

Vanguard Extended Market Index Fund (VEXMX)

22.97

Vanguard International Growth Fund (VWIGX)

11.71

Vanguard Morgan Growth Fund (VMRGX)

10.94

Vanguard Windsor II Fund (VWNFX)

18.43

Vanguard GNMA Fund (VFIIX)

10.58

Vanguard Growth Index Fund (VIGRX)

19.68

Vanguard High Yield Corporate (VWEHX)

4.14

Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth (VSCGX)

13.22

Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund (VASGX)

15.75

Vanguard LifeStrategy Income Fund (VASIX)

12.26

Vanguard LifeStrategy Moderate Growth (VSMGX)

15.00

Vanguard Target Retirement 2005 (VTOVX)

9.98

Vanguard Target Retirement 2015 (VTXVX)

9.69

Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 (VTTVX)

9.32

Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 (VTTHX)

9.24

Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 (VTIVX)

9.55

Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)

10.19

Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTSMX)

21.02

Chase Growth Fund (CHASX)

13.50

Fidelity Asset Manager (FASMX)

10.60

Fidelity Growth and Income (FGRIX)

12.63

Fidelity Intermediate bond Fund (FTHRX)

9.07

Fidelity Magellan Fund (FMAGX)

44.01

Fidelity Small Company Instl (FMACX)

12.66

Fidelity Value Fund (FDVLX)

37.90

Fidelity Equity-Income II Fund (FEQTX)

12.76

Fidelity Blue Chip Growth Fund (FBGRX)

25.51

Fidelity Diversified International Fund (FDIVX)

20.60

Fidelity Dividend Growth Fund (FDGFX)

15.07

Fidelity Freedom Income (FFFAX)

9.45

Fidelity Freedom 2000 (FFFBX)

9.93

Fidelity Freedom 2010 (FFFCX)

10.13

Fidelity Freedom 2020 (FFFDX)

9.78

Fidelity Freedom 2030 (FFFEX)

9.44

Fidelity Freedom 2040 (FFFFX)

5.40

Fidelity Freedom 2050 (FFFHX)

6.22

Fidelity Total Bond Fund (FTBFX)

9.16

Spartan Extended market Index Fund (FSEMX)

21.58

Spartan US Equity Index Fund (FUSEX)

30.81

Domini Social Equity Fund (DSEFX)

18.81

~ Reminders ~

T-AGS OCEANOGRAPHIC SURVEY SHIPS MANNING REQUIREMENTS

REQUIRED COURSEWORK

All MM&P members are reminded that to sail aboard the T-AGS ships that MM&P-contracted Horizon Lines will be operating, you must have the required training certification and your certificates must be current in accordance with Military Sealift Command requirements. Members are also required to have had a MSC pre-employment physical and to possess Ship Security Clearance (see below).

The MSC Contract calls for all training certificates required for manning of these vessels to be no older than 5 years and that all STCW-95 courses be renewed every 5 years, or annually, as applicable.

Five-year renewable courses include, but are not limited to:

Advanced Fire Fighting

Basic Safety Training, and

Damage Control

Small Arms certificates must be less than 1 year old and MUST NOT expire during your tour of duty.

Members interested in applying for one of the positions onboard the T-AGS vessels are advised to make sure your certificates are up to date. If not, contact Mary Matlock or Diane Ford at MITAGS Admissions, email: admissions@mitags.org, and schedule to take the course(s) needed.

Those MM&P members interested in obtaining more information and facts about the T-AGS Oceanographic Vessels are asked to email the Director of Special Projects requesting the “facts sheet”. It will be provided by return email in an Adobe Acrobat PDF format.

Members interested in employment on the T-AGS ships are asked to provide a 1-2 page resume. Please list the desired position you are seeking along with the certificates of training you possess and their dates. Upon receipt it will be forwarded to Horizon Lines and a confirmation sent back to the member. Vessel turnover commenced Oct.17, 2004. Positions for all ratings remain open.

The point of contact for sending a resume for employment on the Horizon Lines T-AGS Oceanographic Vessels is Richard Plant, MM&P’s Director of Special Projects. Send resumes in an email or as a Word file attachment to him at: rplant@bridgedeck.org, by fax to 410-850-0973 or by mail to:

Richard Plant, Director of Special Projects

IOMM&P 700 Maritime Blvd. Suite B Linthicum Heights, MD 21090

SHIP SECURITY CLEARANCE NEEDED

Members who want to sail for Horizon Lines on the T-AGS Oceanographic Survey vessels the company is set to begin operating for MSC must have Ship Security Clearance before going aboard.

Special software must be downloaded from the US Government’s Defense Security Service to complete the Security Clearance application. You must have an Internet connection and a Windows-based computer to retrieve the application and run the program.

After the software is installed and the program is launched, select “Create” from the menu bar at the top of the screen. You will be required to enter your Social Security Number and a case-sensitive password. A window titled “Type of Form” will appear.

All Deck Officers should select the first button titled “Request for Security Clearance (SF86)” and then click “OK” to go to the next screen, “Type of Investigation”.

From the “Type of Investigation” screen:

Masters and Radio Officers should select the first button, “Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI)”.

All other Deck Officers (C/M, 2/M, 3/M) should click on the second button, “National Agency Check (NAC or NACLC)”.

After selecting the appropriate investigation type, click on “OK” to begin filling in the forms.

MSC PHYSICALS

Horizon Lines requests all mariners seeking employment aboard the T-AGS Oceanographic vessels to take their MSC Physical at specially-designated facilities only after being advised to do so by the Company. This is to assure that all requirements of the MSC Physical are properly met.

MM&P FCU NEWS

GET NEW WHEELS OR LOWER EXISTING PAYMENTS WITH MM&P FCU VEHICLE FINANCING

Is it time to replace that car you’re driving? Vehicle loan rates are looking great at MM&P FCU.

Are you paying a higher rate on your current vehicle loan at another institution? Consider refinancing your outside loan at the MM&P FCU and taking advantage of our lower loan rates.

MM&P FCU will finance up to 100 percent of your new vehicle loan, and up to 90 percent of NADA Book Value on a used vehicle. Maximum vehicle loan amount is $30,000.

PREFERRED BORROWERS GET LOWER LOAN RATES MM&P FCU members can reduce the interest rate they pay on any new loan even further by becoming a preferred borrower. What is a preferred borrower? That’s a member who deposits at least 10 percent of the original loan amount into their MM&P FCU savings account and keeps those funds on deposit until the loan is paid in full. By doing this you save twice – first, your deposit works for you by earning our regular dividend savings rate, and second, you save money by reducing the interest rate on your loan by 0.75 percent.

Contact the MM&P FCU for full details on all loan programs by email to mmpfcu@bridgedeck.org or call 1-800-382-7777 toll-free.

MM&P HEALTH & BENEFIT PLAN NEWS

MEET OUR NEW PRESCRIPTION BENEFIT MANAGER, PHARMACARE

As you know, effective July 1, 2007, MM&P will have a new Prescription Benefit Manager, PharmaCare. If you use the mail service and have not sent your Confidential Mail Service Enrollment Form to the MM&P Plan Office, you have until June 30 to do so. Otherwise, you can call PharmaCare’s customer service line and give them the information over the telephone or send the form with your first new mail prescription directly to PharmaCare. In the next couple of days, you will be receiving a letter with your new MM&P identification cards and a prescription booklet with information on how to obtain your prescriptions. PharmaCare’s customer service number is listed in the booklet. If you have any questions, please contact the MM&P Health & Benefit Plan Advisors.

NOTICE TO MM&P HEALTH & BENEFIT PLAN PARTICIPANTS

As you know, MM&P Health & Benefit Plan members have a new prescription benefit manager, PharmaCare. When you first obtain a prescription at your retail drug store, please show your new Health & Benefit Identification Card with PharmaCare’s information. If you do not show your card, please inform your pharmacist of the following information so you can receive your prescriptions through the Plan. Your identification number HAS NOT CHANGED. Please provide the pharmacist with your full member identification number. You will have to also provide the following numbers. RxGrp#- Z50136968, RxBin: 610468 and RxPCN: PC2

If your pharmacist has any questions, he or she should call PharmaCare directly at (800) 503-3241. If you have any questions, PharmaCare members can call the company directly at (888) 364-6815.

WWII USCG VETERANS OUTREACH

The U.S. Coast Guard has announced an initiative to identify and collect the oral histories of its World War II veterans. Coast Guard WWII veterans, including SPARS and merchant mariners, are encouraged to record their histories online with the Library of Congress Veterans History Project at www.loc.gov/folklife/vets.

Those veterans needing assistance in recording their stories can receive help from their local Coast Guard Auxiliary public affairs contact by leaving a message at 1-877-875-6296, a toll-free call.

COMPANY GIVES BUCKS BACK FOR BUYING SAFE SHOES

LMS Ship Management, the company that manages vessels for Central Gulf, Sulphur Carriers and Waterman Steamship, wants to remind MM&P members that they offer their crewmembers a $75 reimbursement on the cost of purchasing certain slip-resistant shoes and boots for use aboard ship.

This offer has been in place for some time and LMS reports that “we have been pleased with the participation to date, but feel a reminder may be in order.” Their goal is for every crewmember to wear slip resistant footwear during working hours aboard their vessels.

The $75 reimbursement is available to each crewmember who provides LMS with an original receipt for the purchase of slip resistant footwear. In order for the crewmember to obtain the reimbursement, they must wear the shoes while on duty. Upon presentation of the receipt, the crewmember will be reimbursed on their pay voucher. The receipt will be retained by the Master and will remain aboard the vessel.

Vessels in the LMS footwear reimbursement program are:

Green Cove

Green Dale

Green Lake

Green Point

Atlantic Forest

Sulphur Enterprise

Energy Enterprise

SGT Matej C. Kocak

MAJ Stephen W. Pless, and

PFC Eugene A. Obregon

LMS notes that in order to receive reimbursement, crewmembers must purchase one of the following recommended brands:

WORX by Red Wing Slip Resistant Footwear

Caterpillar (must have steel toe & slip resistant sole)

Wolverine (must have steel toe and slip resistant sole)

Dunham Sierra Work Boot EH

Steel Toe Voyager

Georgia Boot 6- or 8-inch Safety Toe Boot

Dr. Marten’s (must have steel toe & slip resistant sole)

LOOK FOR THE UNION LABEL:

Of the boots listed above, Red Wing, Caterpillar and Wolverine boots are produced by US union labor.

Wolverine World Wide manufactures boots under the Caterpillar brand using US union labor. (Other union made safety-shoe brands by Wolverine are the company’s Hy-Test, Durashock and Bates Military labels. The company’s Wolverine brand combat boots are also produced using US union labor.)

Most Dr. Marten’s shoes and boots are produced in the UK.

To find US, union-made products, visit the AFL-CIO Union Label Service and Trades website at www.unionlabel.org and click on “Union Made Product Search”. To shop for union-made products online, go to www.ShopUnionMade.org.

WEBSITE OFFERS UNION-MADE GOODS AND SERVICES

The Union Label recently went digital with a new website offering shoppers an array of union-made gifts, from clothing and chocolates to computers, games and greeting cards.

The website, www.shopunionmade.org, launches on the eve of the fall and winter holidays, when shoppers will spend an estimated $1 trillion on gifts, food, drinks and other seasonal items, explained Matt Bates, Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO Union Label & Service Trades Department. The all-union shopping site, however, will be a year-round operation because that is what consumers demand, he added.

“Shoppers spent $56 billion in Internet sales last year, and on-line spending is doubling every two to three years. Everyday we receive Email and calls from people who want to support good jobs by buying union-made goods and services. The website will reach millions of people, 24 hours a day, with a quick convenient way to shop union,” Bates said.

“The public is ready for this. People have seen millions of good jobs disappear and they are looking for ways to take a stand and make a difference,” he added.

The AFL-CIO will target the peak of the holiday shopping season by promoting “Buy Union Week” Nov. 26 through Dec. 5. The newly-launched, all-union shopping site will be a cornerstone of that campaign. MM&P has a link to the Shop Union Site on this website under “Links and Other Sources”.

The MM&P Wheelhouse Weekly is the official electronic newsletter of the International Organization of Masters, Mates, and Pilots, ILA, AFL-CIO, 700 Maritime Blvd. Suite B, Linthicum Heights, MD 21090-1953. Phone: 410-850-8700; Fax: 410-850-0973; Email: iommp@bridgedeck.org. For further info or to subscribe contact Lisa Rosenthal at lrosenthal@bridgedeck.org. The Wheelhouse Weekly is sent via Email to MM&P-contracted vessels at sea and is posted on our web page.